We often forget, due to the lovely buzz of Valentine's Day, that February is Black History Month.
Hearts, candies and cards are always lovely but lest we forget some iconic figures that have paved ways for revolution and equality for people of all colors. These Black History Month innovations range from beautiful art to social justice serving ads that what do great historical figures like Martin Luther King proud. These innovations also educate and inspire those unaware of some figures like Nelson Mandela and all that they've done for the cause they were most certainly passionate about.
Next month, take a moment to reflect on great historic moments.
16 Black History Month Innovations
From History Making Shoe Sets to Pixelated Tribute Art:
Malika Renee Butss — Jan 24, 2014 — Social Good
16
Historical Figure Contribution Ads
These TED Ads Efficiently Show the Effect of Ideas
15
Historical Hand-Made Knives
Nelson Mandela’s Former Chopper Pilot Now Makes Crafty Custom Kn
14
Historically Pertinent Sports Gear
Nike Black History Month Collection Celebrates Success
13
Anti-Discriminatory Adverts
Ads for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Remind Us of His Triumph
12
History-Making Shoe Sets
The Nike Black History Month Pack Pays Homage to Trailblazing Ballers
11
Activist Shower Accessories
The Martin Loofah King Exfoliating Glove Mixes History with Hygiene
10
Splattered Soul Portraits
Corrado Grilli Thinks it's Grand 'To Be Young, Gifted and Black'
9
Pixelated Tribute Art
This Nelson Mandela Tribute by Guy Whitby Pushes the Right Buttons
8
Black Icon Campaigns
The O Povo Celebrate Equality Ads Focus on Historical Figures
7
Symbolic Clothing Designs
Lupe Fiasco's Trilly & Truly 2010 Collection Speaks for Itself
6
Activist Birthday Kicks
Supra Vaider 'MLK' Celebrates the Iconic Figure's Life
5
Mod Historic Apparel
The Nike Black History Destroyer Jacket is Fierce
4
Incredible Iconic Portraits
Peter Fecteau Creates a MLK Potrait Using Rubik's Cubes
3
Reinvented Social Histories
The 'Mandela Story' Video Re-imagines the Icon with Social Media
2
Historical Snow Sport Equipments
The Great Dudes of History Snowboards Features Important Figures
1
Hero Eulogy Photographs
George Qua-Enoo Photographs South Africans Holding Messages for Mandela
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Dr. Martens X Bratz Team Up to Drop a Statement-Making Collection
Collaborative Dynamic Bright Sneakers
Pharrell and adidas Present a Look at the Jellyfish Sneaker
Reimagined Sneaker Collabs
The LA Superstar II Honors Los Angeles’ Vintage and Streetwear Culture
Bronx-Honoring Skate Shoes
Nike SB Dunk Low Honors Local Girl Skaters with Bold New Colorway
Neon-Tinged Performance Footwear
Nike Unveils the Air Foamposite One in a Black and Volt Hue
90’s Inspired Archival Footwear
Dr. Martens Introduces its Edgy 'Buzz' Collection
Snake-Honoring Whimsical Sneakers
Nike Celebrates LNY With an Air Jordan 11 Low Model
Monochromatic Relaunched Basketball Shoes
The Air Jordan 5 Reverse Metallic Gets a Re-Release
Valentines-Inspired Clog Designs
Crocs Launches its Red and Pink-Themed Valentine's Collection
Celebrative Icon-Inspired Campaigns
adidas Originals Honors 55 Years with Superstar: The Original
Floral Tribute Maternal-Inspired Shoes
adidas and UNHEARDOF Drop the Grandma's Couch 2 Shoes
Love-Honoring Curated Gifting Series
JD Sports Rounds Up a Valentine's Edit to Celebrate Love
Food-Themed Sneakers
Chipotle x Nike Air Force 1 Doernbecher Turns a Kid's Order into a Story
Statue-Inspired Basketball Shoes
The Nike Sabrina 3 Statue of Liberty Draws from New York Symbols
Classic Bottle-Cap-Inspired Footwear
The 'Dr. Martens x Palace' Collab Features Vintage Leather
Collectible Historical Figurines
PIX! is Dropping Designs Inspired by Icons in Art, Music & More
National Holiday Marketing Campaigns
Revlon Debuted a Month-Long National Lipstick Day Celebration
Vintage-Inspired Summer Sneakers
Nike Presents a Light British Tan Air Max Muse Shoe
Valentine's Day-Themed Luxury Fashion
The Balenciaga 2025 Valentine’s Day Capsule is Chic & Edgy
Floral Adorned Blue Sneakers
Nike Unveils the Forget Me Not Air Jordan 4 Sneaker Model
Valentine's Day Cereal Lines
General Mills Unveils its Valentine's Day Line Across Multiple Brands
Ceramic-Inspired Footwear Designs
Nike Partners with Japanese Designer Nigo for a New Silhouette
Luxury Menswear Apparel Pop-Ups
Louis Vuitton's Soho Pop-Up Showcases the Fall/Winter 2025 Vision
90's Archival Footwear Pop-Ups
Dr. Martens Hosted a 'Buzz Bus' in NYC
Valentine's-Inspired Sneakers
Nike's Valentine's Day 2025 Sneakers are a Bold Break-Up Statement
Holiday-Honoring Pastel Sneakers
Nike Celebrates with an Easter Colorway of the Air Force 1
Chic Festival-Ready Footwear
adidas' Icons are Festival and Spring-Forward Sneakers
Suggestive-Visual Celebratory Chocolates
Marks & Spencer Launched New Valentine's Day Chocolates
Inclusive Valentine's Treat Ranges
The Hershey Valentine's Day Lineup Has Gifts for All
Single Shoe Services
adidas Launched a Service for Those Living with Leg Limb Differences
Fashionable Valentine's Day Collections
Lilly Loves Lele is a Collaboration for Valentine’s Day
Tropically Inspired Garment Designs
Ashaki Embraces Heirloom-Quality Construction
Jellyfish-Inspired Sneakers
Pharrell Williams and Adidas Originals Drop Shoes with Transparency
Individuality-Focused Brand Campaigns
Adidas Originals' New Campaign Champions Timeless Classics
Surrealist Phone Cases
The Salvador Dalí x CASETiFY Collab Elevates Everyday Accessories into Art
Limited-Edition Beach Sandals
REEF x Ebony Beach Club Celebrate Black Communities and Surf Culture
Sequin-Adorned Vibrant Footwear
Wales Bonner and adidas Launch the Karintha Sequin Shoe
Vibrant Candy-Covered Clogs
The M&M’S x Crocs Collection Will Arrive in October
Glowing Collaborative Y2K Sneakers
Dover Street Market and Nike Present a Glowing Vomero 5
Athlete-Honoring Lifestyle Footwear
Nike Presents the New Air Force 1 Low Linen Edition
Art-Inspired Collectibles
The Mattel x MoMA Series Transforms Iconic Artworks into Toys and Games
Shareable Chocolate Ice Creams
The Chocolatiers Series by Salt & Straw Brings People Together
Tactile Gel Manicures
Braille Nails Brings Braille into Nail Salons to Boost Beauty Inclusivity
Bold Skate Shoe Campaigns
The New Vans Off the Wall Campaign Celebrates the Authentic Sneaker
Self-Care Wellness Sets
Grace & Stella’s Self-Care Essentials Glow This Valentine’s Day
Vibrant Festive Basketball Shoes
Nike Presents the New KD17 Christmas Sneaker Model
Pop-Culture-Inspired Soda Drinks
Cool Sips Embraces Pop Culture Moments with Themed Drinks
Casual Red-Tonal Shoes
adidas Embraces Valentine's Day with a Red Shoes and Clothing Edit
Hybrid Breathable Sneaker Loafers
New Balance Introduces the New Hybrid 1906L Magnet Model
Valentine's Day Cafe Collections
The Dunkin’ Valentine's Day Range Includes Treats and Merch
Sneaker Fused Ceramic Exhibitions
Roberto Lugo Presents the Drip Exhibition in New York
Women's History Month Campaigns
Black Girl Vitamins Joins Forces with Malinda Williams
Whimsical Character-Inspired Statement Capsules
ALDO x Disney Partner for an Iconic Collection
Fashionable Valentine's Day Collections
AKIRA's Valentine's Day Collection is Stylish and Chic
Cherry-Beet Chocolates
Raaka's "Beet-ing" Heart is Naturally Dyed, Hand-Poured & Hand-Filled
Bold Valentine’s Streetwear
Anti Social Social Club Releases a Valentine’s Day Capsule Collection
Butter Yellow Sneakers
Land O'Lakes x Clove Dropped a Limited-Edition Footwear Line
Influencer-Backed Valentine's Day Collections
Adore Me Taps Bobbi Althoff for Its 2026 Capsule
Tribute-Paying Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Mcqueen's Pre-Fall 2025 Campaign is Set in Coach & Horses
Pastel-Colored Valentine’s Day Footwear
The HEYDUDE x Sweethearts Collection Features Candy Prints
Star Motif Performance Footwear
Nike Introduces the New All-Star 2.0 of the Kobe 6 Protro
All-Asian Beauty Campaigns
Maybelline Face the Difference Features 40 Asian Pacific Trailblazers
Fine Art-Inspired Sneaker Designs
Vans and Gallery Dept. Partner Through the OTW by Vans Line
Globally Inspired Heart Candies
Brach's Conversation Hearts Share Messages in Different Languages
Practical Valentine's Candies
Sweethearts Conversation Hearts Share "Love in This Economy" Phrases
Basketball-Honoring Clogs
The NBA x Crocs Classic Clog All-Star Marks the 2025 All-Star Weekend
Artistic Floral Footwear Designs
Ohana Hatake Footwear Was Created by Takashi Murakami
Cinematic Sneaker Campaigns
Adidas Originals Superstar Campaign Features Icons Such as Jennie
2000s-Inspired Pop-Icon Shoes
Louis Vuitton x J-Hope Reimagine the LV Buttersoft Sneaker
Africa-Honoring Collaborative Sneakers
LABRUM and adidas Present the Superstar Sneaker Model
Valentine's Day-Themed Footwear Campaigns
BEARPAW Launched Its Cozy Valentine’s Lookbook
Collaborative Heritage Sneakers
The Coca-Cola × Converse Capsule Nods to Americana Nostalgia
Graffiti Artist-Made Rare Sneakers
Nike and Stash Breathe Life Back to Retro Sneaker Models
Chic Stiletto-Inspired Cookies
Biscuiteers and Manolo Blahnik Partnered for Sweet Treats
African Craft Heritage Slides
The Adidas Wales Bonner Adilette Slides Come in Two Hues
Branded Newspaper Kiosks
New Balance's Grey Days Pop-Up Celebrates a Timeless, Universal Color
Fitness Earphones Campaigns
'Listen to Your Heart' Unites Sports Icons for Powerful Campaign
Large-Scale Interactive Creativity Events
Crayola Celebrated National Dandelion Day in New York
Tech-Inspired Footwear
The Microsoft Crocs Merge Nostalgia & Pop Culture Through a Playful Design
Holiday-Ready Footwear Collections
Dr. Martens’ Holiday Collection is Timeless and Striking
Custom Inspirational Quotes
Muse Combines Quotes with Creative Themes for Social Media
Dandyism-Inspired Men's Footwear
Louis Vuitton Unveiled the 'LV BUTTERSOFT Sneaker'
Honorary Food Initiatives
Nando’s Celebrates Nelson Mandela Day Across Canada
Festive Tonal Basketball Sneakers
Nike Introduces the Ja 2 in a Heart Eyes Colorway
Comprehensive Wellness-Celebrating Initatives
Live Love Spa Marks National Wellness Month
Valentine's Day Nail Sets
Beetles Gel Polish Launches the Beetles So In Love Valentine Collection
Limited-Edition Spring Shoe Capsules
J.McLaughlin Has Joined Forces with Frances Valentine
Dark Collab Footwear
The Dr Martens x Wednesday Midnight-Black Collection Nods to Gothic Outcasts
Vintage-Inspired Valentine's Fashions
The imogene + willie love is everything Collection is Retro
Animated Footwear Campaigns
Vivobarefoot Unveils Free Your Feet Campaign Through Joyful Animation
Artisanal Romanticism Chocolates
Ethel M Chocolates Valentine's Day Collection is Extra-Sweet
Education-Supporting Beauty Brands
Sally Beauty Debuts Its Annual Rooted in Success Initiative
Pastel-Tonal Festive Sneaker Collections
New Balance Launches the Easter Pack of 9060s
Sneaker-Inspired Art Exhibitions
Roberto Lugo's 'Drip' Explores the Impact of the AF1 on Culture
African American-Inspired Makeup Collections
Black Radiance Collaborates with Cross Colours
Mediterranean-Inspired Fashion Collections
LILYSILK Debuts 'Mediterranean Muse' & a V-Day Box
Surreal Artist-Inspired Tech Accessories
CASETiFY Presents a New Salvador Dalí Collection
Family-Centric Animated Films
The Sneaks Movie is an Animated Feature Honoring Sneaker Culture
Holiday Sneaker Capsules
adidas x Minecraft Holiday Sneakers Blend Game Characters with Footwear
Iconic Footwear Tribute Films
Maison Margiela Pays Homage to Its Iconic Tabi Footwear
Seasonally Appropriate Footwear Capsules
ALDO Shoes Presents Shoes Donned in Petals & Pearls
International Women’s Day Events
W Toronto will Feature Curated Women-Centric Celebrations
Awareness-Raising Shoe Store Concepts
Soles4Souls Canada Highlights What's Important This Season
Holiday-Theme Footwear Capsules
Footwear Brand AUTRY Uses AI to Generate its Holiday Campaign
Modular STEM Displays
LEGO Celebrates the Evolution of STEM with an Architectural Set
Women-Honoring Creator Campaigns
xTool Ran the Her Voice, Made Visible Campaign
Heart-Shaped Puzzle Sets
LEGO Lets Users Create their Buildable Valentine's Day Hearts
Nostalgic Art-Inspired Postal Stamps
The New USPS Stamps Celebrate Art and Pop Culture
Floral-Accented Lifestyle Sneakers
adidas Unveils the New Superstar Sakura Sneaker Model
Censorship-Combatting Library Initiatives
The Toronto Public Library Marks Freedom to Read Week
Heartwarming Seasonal Sneaker Campaigns
The Saucony Run Home for the Holidays Campaign is Festive
Powerful Quilt-Inspired Stamp Designs
USPS Issues Designs, Inspired by Harriet Powers
Bold Retro Court Shoes
BBC ICECREAM x Reebok Board Flip Tap Pharrell and Nigo on a Heritage Shoe
Vibrant Creativity Campaigns
Crayola Debuts its 'Creative Acts of Color' Initiative
Romantic Chocolatier Treat Ranges
Kilwins Valentine’s Day Chocolate Collection is Launching Now
Heart-Shaped Valentine’s Day Chocolates
Gardners Candies Boasts Original Peanut Butter Meltaways
Menstrual Health Day Initiatives
The Period Purse Launched 'Menstrual Health Day is Every Day'
Author-Supported Valentine's Day Campaigns
Hallmark Partners with Katherine Schwarzenegger
Romance-Inspired Comfortable Footwear
HEYDUDE Offers Unique Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts
Digital POC-Backed Libraries
Solange Knowles Introduces a New Library Under Saint Heron
Expanded Simplistic Mid Sneakers
The Air Jordan 3 Sneaker Gets a Rare Air Edition
Prideful Modernist Tech Collections
The Apple 2025 Pride Collection Marks Pride Month in Style
Poet-Driven Valentine's Day Campaigns
UrbanStems Partners with JB Copeland for V-Day
Inclusive Romance-Inspired Activations
Generation Love Presented the Giving Love Campaign
Collab Fashion Trainers
Valentino X Vans Authentic Sneakers Boasts a Couture Skate Fusion
Neon-Tinged Dynamic Lifestyle Sneakers
New Balance Plans to Launch a 1906A Neon Pack
Customization-Forward Valentine's Day Gifts
Sugarwish Highlights Customizable Gift Preferences
Elevated Holiday Intimates Promotions
Knix Launches Extended Black Friday Sale with 60% Savings
Reinventive Denim Campaigns
Chapter Two of the REIMAGINE Campaign Honors Levi's Denim Heritage
Creativity-Focused Global Ambassador Programs
Crayola Creativity Week Begins with an Announcement
Small Business-Honoring Events
Fairfax City Economic Development Brings Back Small Business Month
Romantic Seasonal Sneaker Ranges
The Converse Chucks in Love Range Celebrates Valentine's Day
Inclusive Valentine's Day Gifts
Hallmark's Valentine's Day Range Has Gifts for Friends and Family
Inclusive Tech Brand-Initiated Programs
Samsung Places Great Focus on Accessibility and Inclusion
Gender Gap-Addressing Basketball Initiatives
Shoot 360 Hosted HER Month in March
Inclusion-Focused Design Partnerships
Barbie's New Initative Spotlights Black Designers for BHM
Public Art Displays
Paul Anthony Smith’s Photographs Appear at 300 City Bus Stops This Summer
Women-Empowering Photograph Campaigns
Ownever Made a Statement This International Women's Day
Athlete-Joined High Fashion Capsules
Dior and Lewis Hamilton Explores Afrofuturism Themes
Black Heritage Stamp Series
The United States Postal Service Honors Phillis Wheatley